Automatic siphon



No. 624,370. Patented May 2, I899.

C. F. L. MGOUISTION.

' AUTOMATIC SIPHON.

(Apphcat fil dJ'un 16 1898) (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES FINDLEY LIST 1E MCQUISTION, OF BUTLER, PENN SYLVANIA AUTOMATIC SIPHO N.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 624,370, dated May 2, 1899.

Application filed June 16, 1898. Serial No. 683,588. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES FINDLEY made automatic and reliable.

My invention comprises the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my device; and Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation through the discharge and vent pipes, showing the connection between the same.

Mydevice is adapted for use in all places where it is desired to empty a tank at certain intervals, depending upon the time offilling the tank. It is thus adapted for flushing sewers, drains, and similar places. As herein shown, it is in connection with a tank which is provided with a constant small flow of water and operates to rapidly empty the tank, and thus to flush the outlet.

The tank A is provided with a supply-pipe L, through which the water flows in a small stream, the pipe being controlled by a suitable valve. The siphon consists of a pipe C, provided with a short or intake leg 0, connected to the discharge-leg by a bend 0 The discharge-leg of the siphon extends through the bottom of the tank and to some little distance below into a trap or well B. The outflow-pipe or drain K is connected to the upper portion of the trap or well B, thus insuring the well being filled with water at all times. A vent-pipe D is also used, which is connected by a T or similar fitting I to the discharge-leg of the siphon. This connection is shown in detail in Fig. 2. The passage J, connecting the pipes O and D, is located above the level of the water in the well or trap 13. The vent-pipe D extends downwardly from the fitting I and then extends upwardly, the upwardly-extending leg G of the pipe D terminating at or below thelevel of the water in the well B. The bend H, connecting the two portions of the pipe D, is located a little above the lower end of the discharge-leg of the siphon.

The vent-pipe D extends upwardly into the tank and then downwardly, the curve F connecting the two portions being located as high be sufficient to force the Water out of the upwardly-extending portion G of the vent-pipe before the Water reaches the bend O in the siphon.

That portion of the vent-pipe D which extends into the water in the well or trap B forms a blow-off seal, which prevents the air from being discharged out of the siphon until said air has been compressed sufficiently to entirely discharge the water in said trap. The

drain and the upper portion of the well B may be connected with the upper portion of the tank A by a pipe M, as shown.

It will be possible under some circumstances to operate my device without the upwardlyextending portions D and E of the vent-pipe. In this case, as in all others, the length of the leg 0 of the siphon should be sufficient, so that the air compressed by the water rising therein shall force the seal in the lower end of the blow-oft pipe before the water in the siphon reaches the bend 0 In all cases the lower end of the siphon should extend below the bend H in the blow-oif. With such a construction the air compressed by the entrance of water into the intake-leg O of the siphon will force the water out of the blow-off seal in the portion G of the pipe D, and thus discharge the air. This will not occur until the level of water in the tank rises above the bond 0 so that the siphon will promptly fill as soon as the air is discharged.

This device is exceedingly simple in its construction and by reason of containingno moving parts is little liable to get out of order. It is also cheap and reliable and will accomplish its purpose very effectively.

The operation of my device is as follows:

Beginning with the condition in which the tank is empty and water is flowing into it, the water as it rises will unobstructedly enter the arm 0' of the siphon until it reaches the level of the lower end of the leg F of the blow-off pipe D. The air which is displaced from the siphon-pipe will pass first through the connection J into the blow-off pipe and then out through the leg E. When, however, the water reaches the level of the lower end of the leg E, the air is imprisoned by a water seal at both ends of both pipes and is therefore compressed, lowering the relative level of the water in both ends of the siphon and blow-0E pipe as compared with the level of the water in the tank and trap. As the water continues to rise the compression of air increases and the water-level in the lower end of both pipes is lowered, this action continuing until the diiference in the water-level in the upper ends of the pipe and the tank is equal-to the diiference in level of the bend H at the lower end of the blow-off pipe and the water in the trap. At this point the water-level in the lower end of the blow-0E pipe has been lowered until the air confined in the pipes can blow off through the leg G and the Water will rush into the upper ends of the pipes and start the siphon. WVhen the upper part of the blow-off pipe is omitted, the action is the same, except that the compression of air begins immediately upon the rise of the water in the tank. It would also be possible to operate the device without the upwardly-extending portion G of the blow-oit pipe, this pipe in such case terminating at the bend H; It is, however, preferred to retain the upwardlyextending leg G, as the confining or separation of the water forming the seal from that in the trap causes the water in this pipe to be blown out as soon as the air has reached the bend H, thus more completely relieving the pipe of back pressure, and consequently causing a more sudden inrush of water into the siphon-pipe. If the blow-01f pipe terminated at the bend H, the passage of air would be against a constant pressure, whereas when the leg G is used the pressure is rapidly reduced.

Having thus described my invention, .1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. An automatic siphon, consisting of a discharge-pipe bent to form two depending legs of unequal length, a-trap or water sealreceiving the discharge end of the siphon, an S-shaped blow-off pipe having its lower bend within the trap and above the siphon-discharge, its upper end above the bend in the siphon and the end of the leg depending from said upper end located above the intake of the siphon and below the bend in the siphon a distance exceeding the depth of seal in the lower bend of the blow-01f, and a connection between blow-off pipe and siphon located above the level of the water seal in theblowofi pipe and below the siphon-intake, substantially as described.

2. An automatic siphon, consisting ofapipe bent to form two depending legs of unequal length, a trap or water seal receivingthe dis= charge end of the siphon, a blow oflf pipe similarly bent to the siphon and having its lower end within thetrap or water seal and above the siphon-discharge, its bend above the bend in the siphon and its upper end located above the intake of the siphon and below the bend in the siphon a distance exceeding the depth of seal at the lower end of the blow-0E pipe, and a connection between the blow-off and siphon located above the level of the water seal in the blow-off pipe and below the siphonintake, substantially as described.

CHARLES FINDLEY LISLE MOQUISTION. Witnesses:

'H. G. CRICK,

J GRAHAM. 

